Hot Piece of Ash (Paranormal Dating Agency #28) - Milly Taiden Page 0,2

volcano.

Steam rolled over the top of the crater, like vapor from a witch’s cauldron. He wasn’t too concerned. It had happened before they hired his sister to work on the island. After she’d arrived, the steam had stopped, no rhyme or reason. Why was it doing it again? Why was their tropical paradise going to shit?

Even though the sun had been up for several hours, only a few tourists had made their way to the beach. Now, they all stood pointing at the resurrected mountain on the island. Dammit, that was the last thing they needed. For some reason, the number of visitors had been down the previous month. Neither he nor his beta had a clue why.

He stomped his way over the brown patches of grass to the resort’s office. Smoke had better be there, or this alpha was going to go batshit crazy on his beta. The man had never grown out of his childish stage of life. How he managed to do his duties so well was beyond him.

“Morning, Isa,” he managed to grumble, passing the human who had worked there longer than he and Smoke. The first time he walked by her without saying good morning was the last. Isadora had followed him into his office and proceeded to chew him another hole. She was like a mother to them so she had no qualms telling either of them off. This resort was known for its happy employees, including the alpha and beta.

“Wonderful morning to you, Ash,” she called out. He stormed through the doorway and past her desk. His mood lifted a bit from her aura of positivity.

Surprisingly, Smoke was at his desk and working on the computer with his keyboard pulled out from under the desktop.

Ash plopped into the upholstered chair across from Smoke and sighed. The view out the picture window behind the desk was beautiful. The forest filled the sight with the mountain in the far background. The steam he had seen earlier was no longer there.

When Smoke didn’t even look at him, he grumbled in his chest.

“Just a minute,” Smoke said, “I’ve never made it past this level, and I’m close to dying.”

What the hell? Ash reached out, spinning the monitor around to see an animated computer game.

“Hey,” Smoke growled, “I can’t see it.” His hands came from under the desk to reveal a game controller in his hand. And Ash thought he was actually working. He wanted to throttle the dragon. “Dammit,” Smoke said, jerking the computer back. “If I die—” After punching a button several times, he dropped the controller with a clunk. “I could’ve made it if you hadn’t interfered.”

“Smoke, we have a problem we need to figure out.”

“What problem could there possibly be on an enchanted paradise island?” Smoke sat back in his chair, his brows raised.

“Haven’t you noticed any changes?” Ash asked, trying not to grind his teeth. If his beta was clueless, then he would…

“I have,” Smoke replied, shocking him. “The coral in the cove is dying. The colors used to be vibrant but are dull and ashen now. And the variety of fish aren’t there. Plus, fewer females are coming to the island.”

Ash rolled his eyes. He hated being antsy over everything that had to do with the island. His beta always talked about females, but when it came down to it, he barely talked to the opposite gender. He wondered if Smoke was hiding a shy side. He almost laughed. Smoke and shy didn’t go in the same sentence.

Smoke continued. “I think we need to hire a new PR person. Someone to drum up business and let others know there’s a place other than the Virgin Islands to visit. And we’re ten times better.”

Maybe his beta did know what was going on.

“A new PR person is a good idea. Ever since Noelle moved we haven’t really addressed that position,” Ash stood and paced, unable to sit still. “We could use a new brochure. Maybe increase our online presence.”

“Great,” Smoke said, “how do we go about finding this guy? Headhunter?”

“Whoa,” Ash held up his hands. “Not so fast. Other things are more important right now.”

Smoke’s brows pinched. “Like what?”

A vibration ran through Ash’s body.

“What the hell is that?” Smoke jumped to his feet. “This is the second time.”

“Turn around,” Ash told Smoke.

“Why?” Smoke slowly faced the window. “Fuck. Do we need to evacuate the island?” He whipped his head back to Ash. “Wait. Stuff like this doesn’t happen here. Why is the island suddenly